LOS ANGELES – Manny Pacquiao can make his presence felt even in the baseball field.
The AT&T Park was filled to the rafters on Tuesday (April 21) night as Pacquiao, the world?s best pound-for-pound fighter, threw the ceremonial first pitch in the San Francisco Giants-San Diego Padres Major League Baseball tussle.
It was Filipino Heritage Night, but the extra tickets sold for the game won by the Giants, 8-3, were attributed to the presence of Pacquiao. Last year?s first of two Heritage Nights drew just 5,000, according to a report in MLB.com.
In contrast, the Giants-Padres showdown drew 42,000 fans, according to Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum.
The huge turnout raised around $50,000 in charitable proceeds, the bulk of which will be divided among the Manila Heritage Foundation, the Filipino-American Arts Exposition and ABS-CBN?s Bantay Bata.
Pacquiao, who played baseball as a little boy in Gen. Santos City, pitched to Giants Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, who is incidentally half-Filipino.
Hatton warning
Meanwhile, Hatton is banking on his strength and slight height advantage to help him knock out Pacquiao early.
The 5-foot-7 Briton, who has never lost at his natural weight of 140 pounds, is one inch taller than former four-weight world champion Pacquiao.
?I don?t see it being a distance fight,? Hatton said. ?When [Manny] gets hit, he will be hit by the strongest man he has ever been in (the ring) with.?
But Pacquiao?s sparring partner, Alisher Rahimov, thinks Pacquiao has what it takes to beat Hatton.
?He is very quick and powerful,? Rahimov said through an interpreter.
Of course, Pacquiao didn?t even hit him with full might. With a report from Reuters
NOTES: Former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson picked Pacquaio to win by knockout while revered trainer Angelo Dundee chose Hatton? Betting odds continue to soar for Pacquiao, who is now at -285 with Hatton at +185.
